Margate were denied a second straight win in the dying minutes as Lloyd Macklin unleased a 30 yard effort to equalise for the Met Police in a 1-1 draw at Hartsdown Park on Tuesday night.

The Blues made just one change from their win at Staines in the Trophy on Saturday as James Rogers was suspended meaning Lee Prescott filled that role, otherwise it was as you were for Steve Watt and his side after that 3-0 demolition of Staines.

On a spooky Halloween evening it was Margate who started the quicker of the two sides with some neat attacking moves that would have scared the away side of what was to come for the evening. It was new signing Kane Haysman who created Margate’s first chance but his curling effort went wide of the post.

Margate continued to pressure the away side and were awarded a penalty in the 16th minute which Jordan Chiedozie calmly slotted home from 12 yards to put the Blues in front after David Martin had been fouled in the box.

Further half chances for Jay May and Jack Evans followed as Margate seemed in complete control in the first 45 minutes. The lead should have been extended in the dying minutes of the first half as the ball fell to the feet of Chiedozie after the visitor’s keeper and a centre half collided but his snap shot flew over the bar.

The hosts had no intention of sitting back on their 1-0 lead and almost doubled it straight away as Martin saw his low cross collected by Haysman who saw his effort well blocked by the visitors defence.

Despite chances being created Margate just couldn’t grab the second goal they craved and with time ticking on Met Police started to throw everything at the ‘Gate but never really troubled Lenny Pidgeley who looked set for his 10th clean sheet of the season.

The visitors did equalise in the 85th minute as Macklin collected the ball from 30 yards before unleashing a strike that dipped over Pidgeley and nestled into the goal to bring the scores level.

Substitute Frannie Collin had a half chance to win it for the Gate in added on time as he latched into a high ball into the box but he failed to connect properly.

MARGATE: Pidgeley, Sessegnon, Mills, Prescott, Friend, Wynter, Haysman (Swift 76’), Evans, May, Chiedozie, Martin (Collin 76’)

Subs Not Used: Lee, Stannard, Bodkin

Attendance: 358